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Wiltshire off to winning start

Wiltshire made a winning start to their MCCA Trophy campaign with a 90-run triumph over Buckinghamshire at Corsham.

Thomas Hankins, Henry Langford, Joe Breet and Tom Morton all put on half-centuries to put Wiltshire firmly in the driving seat with 362 for eight, beating their previous highest score in this competition by 28 runs.

Despite James Benning and Matthew Eyles passing fifty and sharing a second-wicket stand of 97, neither man could go on to get a big score as Buckinghamshire were all out for 272.

Openers Morton, who made exactly 50, and Jayden Levitt, 47, set Wiltshire on their way after they won the toss with an opening stand of 104, but they then lost three wickets for 19 runs.

Hankins and Breet eased any nerves with another ominous partnership and both players reached their half-centuries in a free-scoring partnership worth 126.

Hankins fell 13 runs short of a century after he was trapped in front by Bobby Sher, who was the pick of the Buckinghamshire bowlers with 3-68, while Breet was also lbw to Paul Sawyer for 62.

However, with 313 already on the board by the time Breet was out, Langford ushered the tail with a patient 65 from 79 balls to help Wiltshire enhance an already imposing total.

Buckinghamshire had to bat positively as they needed over seven an over to keep up with Wiltshire, but their reply got off to a bad start as Hamzah Taj fell for 12.

Fellow opener Benning, who had earlier conceded 95 runs off his 10 overs, and Eyles formed a solid partnership as they recorded 57 and 72 respectively.

But once both men had been dismissed, Buckinghamshire struggled to keep up with the rate, with only Jason Harrison offering a quickfire 56 as Buckinghamshire were all out for 272 from 44.1 overs.

Wiltshire’s two local debutants Ashur Morrison and Sam Mount took three wickets apiece, while Mitchell Stokes supported them well with 2-48.